Blood Origins

Blood Origins is an non-profit organization bringing unique storytelling and conservation together to change not only how hunting is viewed, but also how we fund conservation programs around the world more efficiently and effectively.

Wilderness
26
Episode 496 - Greg McHale || Truths From The Yukon
Greg McHale, a 27-year resident of Whitehorse in the Yukon Territories, joins Robbie to talk Whitehorse wildlife and life in his small city of 43,000 on the edge of the legendary Canadian wilderness. From predator-prey relationships to what he’s seeing on the ground, from bears and wolves to sheep and moose, and more. Greg and Robbie met at the beginning of the Blood Origins journey at the Wild Sheep Show back in 2018, where both Greg and Robbie were just beginning their respective journeys with the their projects. There is argubly no tougher individual from his adventure racing days to the kinds of hunts he endures in the Yukon - if you haven't checked out any of Greg's content you can find it by googling "Greg McHale's Yukon Adventures"
41 min
27
Roundup 129 || Recorded On Location From TANZAN...
Robbie comes at you with this week’s roundup recorded on location in Tanzania during a recent Blood Origins trip to see from a ground level perspective the big tusker controversy between Tanzania and Kenya. Robbie and the Slots Media boys (plus Gerald!) are back in their ‘Audium’ medium to talk about Tanzania elephant hunting, research, and more. This is Part 1 of two round ups in which the crew is at the beginning of a 12 day filming journey and Robbie wanted to capture everyone's perspectives and sentiments about the controversy before talking to anyone around the subject. After the 12 days of filming the Part 2 of the Round Up will drop in which they reconvene to discuss whether anyone's minds have changed based on seeing and hearing what they have filmed.
40 min
28
Episode 495 - Dr. Roy Bengis || Birth Control F...
Dr. Roy Bengis, former State Veterinarian for Kruger National Park and widely recognized as one of the foremost experts in elephant management specifically tied to physiology and contraception joins Robbie to talk about the history of contraception coming to the forefront of the discussion around elephant contraception. Almost 20 years ago, elephants couldn’t even be given away, necessitating the need for management. Now, Dr. Bengis joins Robbie to talk about contraception in elephants, and shares his opinions on wildlife management from a man who spent 30 years living and breathing elephant management. 
65 min
29
Episode 494 - Joe Julian || Hillbilly, Woodwork...
Joe Julian, son of the eponymous high end gunroom maker Julian and Sons and recent partner with boot maker Russell Moccasin, joins the podcast live on location with Robbie where the two spend the day on the river, touring the factory, and more. They talk about who Joe is, where he was raised, and the values of Julian and Sons and Russell Moccasin.
47 min
30
Episode 493 - Sarah Falen || Are Animal Rights ...
J.D, rancher and 4th Generation Wyoming-ite Sarah Falen has spent her career lobbying against legislation and policy that stymies the rural lifestyle. She has also spent significant time exposing waste around outsize salaries and compensation at animal rights organizations.
47 min
31
Episode 492 - Jack Carmody || Would You Shoot A...
Jack Carmody, a farmer out of Western Australia and YouTube creator (Jack Out The Back) is gaining some notoriety because of an increasingly controversial hobby of camel hunting. So, he sits down with Robbie to talk about pest management for farmers in Australia, managing invasive species, and the frustrations he faces along the way while trying to manage these animals.
58 min
32
Episode 491 - Claudia Breit || “Everything But ...
Claudia Breit is a 27-year-old former member of German military intelligence and current full time psychologist who has recently converted from the ‘hunting is cruel’ crowd to being a hunter herself, based around her curiosity of where her meat actually comes from. Robbie and Claudia talk about her conversion from anti-hunter to hunter, the wolf problem they’re currently having in Germany and more.
33 min
33
Episode 490 - Kill Or Save Bambi
William Reyntiens is a Belgian hunter who Robbie met on one of his recent adventures, staying at his house during a project for Bergara. William is a volunteer with the “Sauvon Bambi aka Saving Bambi” project in Belgium. This conservation project is funded by Bergara International Fund, where Robbie and the Blood Origins crew are helping out as a way to push back on the bambification of wildlife and hunters and correct that damage by rescuing deer fawns in Belgium. It’s an incredible project, one where hunters are working shoulder to shoulder with non-hunters to save baby deer fawns from farmers hay cutting blades as they cut hayfields that they are hiding in.
53 min
34
Episode 489 - Gary Pusateri || Gene Sequencing ...
Dr. Gary Pusateri M.D., is trying something a little out of the ordinary. Himself and business partners have founded a company called Dream Genomics - it's a company that is interested in using gene sequencing to allow early detection of human diseases. He is also a hunter, and was approached by friends and colleagues and was asked the question if you can do it for humans could you do it for animals - i.e, can you use blood to detect the early signs of animal based diseases like Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)? This conversation dives into that possibility and more.
47 min
35
Episode 488 - Niklas Gustafson || Raw Milk, Sun...
Niklas Gustafson, a Swedish health and lifestyle influencer living in Spain, joins Robbie to talk about his mission to educate the public about healthy living and debunk myths surrounding a healthful lifestyle. Robbie got wind of Niklas becuase he posted a series of videos of him hunting in Nambia with his sons. Naturally Robbie was curious - the whole premise of the IG page was health, there was no signs that he hunted, but yet here he was posting about hunting. So naturally we wanted to ask him why? Why he hunts, why he was comfortable posting the videos of him hunting etc.?
33 min
36
Roundup 128 || Lions And Bears And Jim Inglis!
Robbie, Ashlee, and guest (and Farm Bill expert) Jim Inglis discuss the farm bill and its impact on conservation and hunting, the ongoing controversies surrounding “cougar” (if you’re team Ashlee) or “mountain lion” (if you’re team Robbie) hunting in Washington, Utah, and Colorado, an update on a podcast regarding hunting regulations for grizzlies in Alberta and Alaska by Blood Origins Canada, and the status of caribou populations. The crew also gives an update on the upcoming Lionheart film premiere taking place at the Paramount Theater in Denver (we’re still looking for sponsors!). The conversation then shifts to the decline of caribou populations and the lack of scientific evidence supporting the need for predator control. 
55 min
37
Episode 487 - Madison Sharpe || The Baddest Wom...
There aren't many times that Robbie is in awe, this podcast with Madison left Robbie in awe. Robbie had being trying to get Madison on the podcast for quite sometime, and during the time things were trying to get scheduled, Madison literally become a world champion. The 2024 World Champion in Women’s Sporting Clays Shooting Madison Sharpe joined Robbie to discuss what it takes to be a world champion shooter, approaching the course, strategy, and a ton of other information about this incredibly unique sport, straight from the baddest woman in shooting herself! If you had any questions about what it takes, what the course is like, and just questions in general - Robbie covers them all.
41 min
38
Episode 486 - Meg Day || “I Understand Hunting ...
Meg Day, Social Media Manager for the organization known as VETPAW, joins Robbie for exactly the type of conversation we get jazzed up about at Blood Origins. Meg was introduced to us by Adrian from Buffalo Kloof and suggested she would be a great person to connect with and have a conversation with. VETPAW has been involved in conservation related efforts at BuffaloKloof, and Meg got to see the operation and the role that hunting plays in that conservation success. Meg started out as a vehement anti-hunter and, though she now understands hunting, still may not like it. And that’s okay! From growing up with a mother who is a ‘huge animal hunter’ and being a vegetarian since the age of 14 to today, learn about her journey in wildlife conservation and how she has come to her understanding with hunters and hunting.
36 min
39
Episode 485 - Natalie Krebs || Imagine You Saw ...
Natalie Krebs, Executive Editor of Outdoor Life, catches up with Robbie about her recent jaunt (halfway around the world!) to Australia. She has never been to Australia and went to to understand the duck hunting issues affecting Victoria, Australia. What she found was in her words "shocking". Robbie and Natalie go into discussion about how activists are jumping in the water and sitting ten meters off the decoy spread in kayaks in attempts to spook ducks in one of the most aggressive displays of anti-hunting extremism in the world and recounts her first-hand experience in this craziness.
48 min
40
Episode 484 - Natalie Eva Marie || PETA Made Me...
Today Natalie Eva Marie will tell you she is a hunter. She will also confidently and truthfully tell you that PETA made her a hunter. PETA even commented on one of the very first posts she put out about her incredible harvest. If you don’t know who Natalie is you may know her from connection with the WWE and Professional Wrestling Diva career. Natalie joins Robbie to talk about her conversion to hunting and what it was like to expose her 6.5 million followers online to hunters, when the vast majority of them do NOT hunt. Natalie is exactly the kind of person that hunting needs - someone who doesn’t look like your typical hunter, has a very clear idea of why she decided to become a hunter, and respects the pursuit and the wildlife involved in it. If you are on the fence about hunting or have a negative perception around hunting I would suggest listening to this podcast.
49 min
41
Roundup 127 || Ashlee’s Themed Cocktail, Eating...
Ashlee is starting to get the hang of the new role as the co-host of the Blood Origins Round-up, she even made a cucumber infused Cathead Vodka drink that would have made Cody drool. Robbie and Ashlee talk about some cool Conservation Club members like Grayl and a new one Glacier Guides Inc., Robbie asks Ashlee if she would eat Zebra meat given South Africa's new biodiversity strategy, they highlight how cool the Iberian Lynx recovery is and how it’s tied to hunting. They also talk about "NamaSteve" and "consumptive vs. non-consumptive" yoga and finally what tourism looks like in the Masai Mara in Kenya and whether thats natural? Big podcast, lots of topics. 
45 min
42
Episode 483 - Trevor Farnes || One Meal, One Ki...
Trevor Farnes is the CEO of MTN OPS. Robbie recently went by MTN OPS in Salt Lake City, Utah, and recorded this episode with Trevor on site. Robbie wanted to have a conversation with Trevor that was outside of the norms of a typical podcast Trevor does. This podcast wasn't really about Trevore, or his recent book, but rather, to dive in and to talk about the company’s reputation and influencers, MTN OPS new ‘conquering hunger’ initiatives, why he feels the company gets a bad rap, and the heart of a company tied to hunting and how that ethos permeates the entire organization.
48 min
43
Episode 482 - Cam Speedy || Biodiversity Manage...
Cam Speedy is a restoration ecologist living on the North Island of New Zealand. He has worked in some of the most incredible biodiversity management projects in New Zealand, including large scale Kiwi rehabilitation and restoration projects - and yes, happens to be one of Robbie’s favorite people to talk to! Cam joins the podcast once again to talk about deer management (Cam’s favorite subject), non-native species management, eradication vs management, and then a big surprise for Cam at the end of the episode thanks to our gracious donors to Blood Origins, the Sea Dragon DAF!
44 min
44
Roundup 126 || Colorado Wolves, Ballot Signatur...
Ashlee and Robbie chop it up again on this week’s roundup. In addition to getting Ashlee’s tequila cocktail recipe of choice, and after discussing all the wonderful conservation club partners, they dig into the issues affecting hunting today. Ashlee shares her strong opinions about some recent Colorado wolf controversy, the upcoming ballot measure 91 election in Colorado, and more!
38 min
45
Episode 481 - Scruff Vermaak || The Scruffalo
Scruff Vermaak is the son of a legendary professional hunter in South Africa, Coenraad "the Bullet" Vermaak. Coenraad Vermaak Safaris (CVS) is the oldest outfittering company in South Africa. It has been a member of Dallas Safari Club since the first convention, and has been exhibiting there for 45 years now. You could class the Vermaaks as professional hunting history in South Africa - one of 4 families that are intrinsically a part of the history and fabric of hunting: 1) The Knotts, 2) The Maartens, 3) The Vermaaks, and 4) The Kelly's. Scruff and Robbie have a conversation while they are both on site on the Tugela River in South Africa while filming Scruff's Blood Origins episode. Robbie and Scruff talk about the history of their family in the hunting industry, and covers the history fo being in the industry since 1970. This podcast episode is also a companion episode to the embedded Blood Origins video episode, that will be released soon! There is some great behind the scenes footage that is epic and you do not want to miss it. Big thanks to the Dallas Safari Club Foundation for funding an opportunity to tell this incredible story.
38 min
46
Episode 480 - Ed Swales || What The Hell Is A ‘...
Ed Swales is an ex-soldier/security specialist and is a life-long blue collar hunting enthusiast from the Northern England countryside. The traditional hunting method of the rural country individual in the english countryside is running dogs to catch rabbits and hares for the pot. Ed Swales is no different. A lifelong dog hunter, Ed is focused right now on a film from his company, Hunting Kind, called Lurchers - a very specific breed of dog that could be part whippet, part greyhound, part terrier, dependent on what the individuals is looking for in a hunting dog. Like any type of dog hunting anywhere in the world, the Lurchers have been politiced essentially out of existence. There is a rich narrative of hunting and hunting tradition in the British countryside, and the lurchers are very much a part of the narrative of it all - one could almost argue that they are the rural foundation of hunting in the United Kingdom.
55 min
47
Roundup 125 || Introducing Ashlee Smith!
In this very special roundup, Robbie introduces Ashlee Smith, the new Director of Global Policy Outreach at Blood Origins. Robbie and Ashlee cover her background, her storied career in advocating for our wildlife resources and hunting lifestyle, how they know one another, what to expect from this exciting new position. They do a little diving into California’s new black bear management plan (comments are closed now), more happenings in Kenya, Victorian duck hunting in Australia, and more.
48 min
48
Episode 479 - Roy Sloan || A Fight Worth Fighting.
Robbie is joined by Roy Sloan of the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation and their knockdown, drag out battle with Forest and Bird and some exciting updates on that fight. Roy Sloan is the executive director of the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation and is in charge of argubly the crown jewel of sustainable wildlife management in the world, deer population management, is married with utilization of the resource, providing high quality hunting opportunities, maintaining public access with work on trails and huts. Its an organization that does it all in the name of wildlife conservation. Get all the up-to-speed updates on this critical battle and share with your friends to keep them in the know! P.S. There have been some big developments since this podcast was created, with Forest and Bird putting a 6 month adjournment to the judicial review and working with Fiordland Wapiti Foundation to look at how they can continue to do great work. Certainly a massive step in the right direction...
50 min
49
Episode 478 - Karl Malcolm & Curt Meine || 75 Y...
Robbie is joined by Karl Malcolm and Curt Meine, two experts in the life and history of Aldo Leopold. The conversation revolves around the 75th anniversary of Aldo Leopold's book, Sand County Almanac, and the importance of his ideas in the field of conservation biology. The guests discuss Leopold's influence on the conservation movement and his emphasis on the relationship between people and the land. They explore Leopold's views on hunting and the ethical use of natural resources. The conversation highlights the relevance of Leopold's ideas in today's society, particularly in the face of increasing urbanization and the need for ecological awareness. The guests encourage readers to pick up Sand County Almanac and appreciate its beautiful prose and thought-provoking insights.
45 min
50
Roundup 124 || Rain, Ticks, and Croissants!
Robbie is joined on location in France for the second week in a row by the Slots Media team for another of their rip-roaring post-shoot roundups! After Robbie, Jack and Steffan finish describing the bliss of warm croissants, the boys tackle a lioness scaling a fence, the concept of so-called ‘sophisticated vandalism’, their latest video shoot - filming volunteers saving fawns from agricultural machinery in the French countryside, saving pheasant eggs, and more from the French countryside!
45 min